epidemic

Meanings

Noun

• A widespread disease that affects many individuals in a population.
• An occurrence of a disease or disorder in a population at a frequency higher than that expected in a given time period.
• the spreading of an idea or belief amongst a population.

Adjective

• Like or having to do with an epidemic; widespread

Related

Opposite words

• endemic

Origin

• From French épidémique, from épidémie, from Latin epidemia, from Ancient Greek ἐπιδήμιος, from ἐπί + δῆμος. Surface analysis epi- + demic.